STATS

FANTASY BASEBALL

{"playerId":404,"percentChange":0,"averageDraftPosition":260,"percentOwned":0.8,"playerRaterSEASON":-0.8,"fullName":"A.J. Pierzynski","seasonOutlook":{"outlook":"Pierzynski, who was awarded the Silver Slugger in 2012, has seen a steep decline in his performance the past two seasons. His OPS fell by more than 100 points in 2013, and he limped to a .254/.286/.348 batting line in 72 games with Boston to begin the 2014 campaign, leading to his release in July. The Cardinals brought Pierzynski aboard after Yadier Molina went down with a thumb injury, but he eventually slipped into a timeshare with Tony Cruz and was relegated to bench duty upon Molina's return. Between the two stops, Pierzynski hit five homers, his lowest total since 2000, and posted a career-worst .625 OPS. Granted, his 5.4 percent HR/FB rate was the lowest mark of his career, and his .283 BABIP was below his career norm (.297), but his skills are clearly deteriorating as he enters his age-38 season. After signing with Atlanta in the offseason, Pierzynski appears in line to serve as the top backup to Christian Bethancourt to start the season, though he could take on a greater share of the time if Bethancourt's bat lags significantly behind his glove.","seasonId":2015,"date":"Tue Feb 10"},"positionRank":30}

BOSTON -- Between Boston and Triple-A Pawtucket, the Red Soxs Christian Vazquez played in 121 games last season, 106 of them behind the plate. Thats a full load for any catcher, and more games than hed ever played in a single season.

BOSTON -- The hard part is not coming to the plate four times a night. David Ortiz still can hit. The hard part is coming soon, in the offseason, pushing himself one more time to do the work necessary to be the player he is.

Jayson Stark examined the storylines in play if Yadier Molina is healed enough to start in Game 3.But lets take a look at the impact of A.J. Pierzynski potentially starting, on a couple of different statistical fronts.